What are the Six Thinking Hats?
The Six Thinking Hats is a method that divides thinking into six distinct modes, each represented by a colored hat. Rather than trying to do everything at once—argue, analyze, be creative, and be critical simultaneously—the method separates these modes. When everyone "wears" the same hat at the same time, the group thinks in parallel, focusing their collective intelligence on one aspect before moving to another. This approach transforms adversarial debate into collaborative exploration.
History and Origin
Created by Dr. Edward de Bono in 1985, the Six Thinking Hats method emerged from his work on lateral thinking and creative problem-solving. De Bono, a physician, psychologist, and philosopher, observed that traditional argument-based thinking often led to poor decisions because people became invested in defending positions rather than exploring possibilities. His book "Six Thinking Hats" introduced this revolutionary approach, which has since been adopted by organizations worldwide, from small schools to Fortune 500 companies like IBM, DuPont, and Siemens.
How to Use the Six Thinking Hats: Step by Step
Step 1: Understand Each Hat
White Hat (Facts & Information):
- Neutral and objective
- Focus on available data
- Identify information gaps
- Look at past trends
- Learn from historical data
Red Hat (Emotions & Intuition):
- Feelings and hunches
- No need to justify emotions
- Gut reactions
- Likes and dislikes
- Emotional intelligence
Black Hat (Caution & Critical Thinking):
- Logical negative assessment
- Why something won't work
- Potential problems
- Risks and dangers
- Critical but not argumentative
Yellow Hat (Optimism & Benefits):
- Positive assessment
- Why something will work
- Benefits and value
- Best-case scenarios
- Constructive and optimistic
Green Hat (Creativity & Alternatives):
- New ideas and possibilities
- Creative solutions
- Alternatives and variations
- Breaking out of patterns
- Innovation and change
Blue Hat (Process Control):
- Managing the thinking process
- Setting the agenda
- Defining problems
- Summarizing and conclusions
- Next steps and action plans
Step 2: Set Up the Session
- Choose a facilitator to manage hat changes
- Ensure everyone understands the six hats
- Define the topic or problem clearly
- Set time limits for each hat (typically 2-10 minutes)
- Prepare recording method for ideas
Step 3: Start with Blue Hat
The facilitator (wearing Blue Hat) should:
- Define the session's purpose
- Outline the hat sequence
- Set ground rules
- Clarify expected outcomes
Step 4: Follow a Logical Sequence
Common sequences include:
- Exploration: Blue → White → Green → Yellow → Black → Red → Blue
- Problem-Solving: Blue → White → Red → Black → Green → Yellow → Blue
- Quick Check: Blue → Black → Yellow → Blue
- Creative Session: Blue → Green → Yellow → Black → Blue
Step 5: Apply Hat Discipline
When wearing each hat:
- Everyone thinks in that mode only
- No switching hats mid-discussion
- Encourage full participation
- Capture all contributions
- Avoid judgment (except in Black Hat)
Step 6: Manage Transitions
- Clear announcement of hat changes
- Brief pause between hats
- Remind group of new hat's focus
- Reset if people drift to wrong hat
Step 7: Conclude with Blue Hat
Final Blue Hat session should:
- Summarize key insights from each hat
- Identify decisions made
- Define action items
- Assign responsibilities
- Schedule follow-up if needed
Practical Examples
Product Development Meeting Example:
- Blue Hat: "How can we improve our mobile app?"
- White Hat: Current ratings 3.2/5, 40% daily active users, main complaints about speed
- Red Hat: Team feels frustrated with technical debt, excited about new features
- Black Hat: Risks include breaking existing features, development costs, user learning curve
- Green Hat: Progressive web app, AI recommendations, gamification elements
- Yellow Hat: Could increase engagement 50%, reduce support costs, attract younger users
- Blue Hat: Prioritize speed improvements first, then pilot AI features with beta users
Family Vacation Planning Example:
- Blue Hat: Where should we go for summer vacation?
- White Hat: Budget $5,000, 10 days available, kids ages 8 and 12
- Red Hat: Kids want adventure, parents want relaxation
- Green Hat: Safari, cruise, road trip, staycation with day trips
- Yellow Hat: Safari would be educational, once-in-a-lifetime experience
- Black Hat: Safari expensive, long flights, safety concerns
- Blue Hat: Research Costa Rica as compromise—adventure plus relaxation
Strategic Planning Example:
- Blue Hat: Should we expand internationally?
- White Hat: Domestic market 80% penetrated, 15% annual growth, competitors expanding
- Green Hat: Partnership model, acquisition, organic growth, franchising
- Black Hat: Cultural barriers, regulatory complexity, resource strain
- Yellow Hat: Triple addressable market, diversify risk, learn new practices
- Red Hat: Excitement about challenge, concern about overextension
- Blue Hat: Proceed with partnership model in English-speaking markets first
Benefits and Life Improvements
The Six Thinking Hats method delivers transformative benefits for groups and individuals:
Faster, Better Decisions: By eliminating circular arguments and ensuring all aspects are considered, groups reach better decisions in less time—often 50% faster.
Reduced Conflict: Separating ego from thinking—it's not "my idea" versus "your idea" but "what does Yellow Hat thinking show us?"—dramatically reduces personal conflicts.
Complete Exploration: The method ensures groups don't miss critical aspects by systematically examining facts, emotions, risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Equal Participation: Quiet members contribute more when given permission to share within a specific hat, while dominant members can't monopolize all thinking modes.
Enhanced Creativity: Green Hat time specifically dedicated to creativity produces more innovative solutions than traditional brainstorming.
Emotional Intelligence: Red Hat legitimizes emotions and intuition as valid inputs, leading to decisions that better account for human factors.
Better Implementation: By addressing concerns (Black Hat) and benefits (Yellow Hat) upfront, implementation faces fewer surprises and greater buy-in.
Skill Development: Regular use develops more flexible thinking skills, as people learn to consciously shift between different modes of thought.
Personal Applications: Individuals can use the hats for personal decisions, wearing each hat in sequence to ensure thorough consideration.
The Six Thinking Hats transforms thinking from a confusing argument where everyone talks past each other into a disciplined exploration where everyone thinks together. It's particularly powerful in our diverse, fast-paced world where bringing together different perspectives is crucial for success. Whether you're running a corporate board meeting, planning a community event, or making a family decision, the Six Thinking Hats provides a proven structure for better thinking. Master this method, and you'll never suffer through another meandering, unproductive meeting—instead, you'll lead focused sessions that harness collective intelligence to produce remarkable results.